[oldE]

I think the reason for the re-hash of proven designs has more to do with the age of the automotive industry in China. GM, VW and others have had plants in China for a number of years, but the industry is growing. Last year's designs are proven, tried, tested and true. Remember the Lada? It was a Russian remake of a Fiat. They just picked up the factory tooling and set it up in a new factory when Fiat went to new technology. In the same vein, the Romanians built the Dacia, a lock, stock and barrel copy of the Renauly 12, to try to get their car industry off the ground. The Indians went through the same thing with remakes of British designs, etc. etc.
The Chinese don't have to design all new cars from the ground up. They don't have the expertise yet and their market doesn't demand it. First, they will build their industry, making copies and making changes as needed. Like the Koreans do now and Japanese did in the 70s, they will use their low wage rate to fill Walmart parking lots. If any North Americans have a job and enough money to buy cars.
Les